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On to South Carolina: Hillary gets back on track

James Forsyth

Wednesday, 9th January 2008

But it’s all still to play for, says James Forsyth. Senator Clinton’s astonishing comeback does not mean that Obama is finished by any means -— and John McCain has injected much-needed energy into the Republican primaries, too

We are in uncharted waters now. This is the first time since Iowa and New Hampshire were placed together at the top of the nominating process in 1976 that the Republican and Democratic contests have produced four different winners. There is a long way to go in both contests. But the real winner from the past week might turn out to be the Democratic party. The historic nature of their contest guarantees endless media coverage and whoever emerges victorious will already have proved themselves capable of winning a tough election. But even this is not a certainty, as the fight could turn really nasty. There’s is little love lost between the candidates, with Obama telling Hillary cuttingly at the debate that she’s ‘likeable enough’. Then there is the chance that the Democrat’s racial coalition could collapse if the Clintons try to stir up Hispanic opposition to the idea of a black nominee.

The few weeks leading up to 5 February, when more than 20 states hold their primaries, will see a battle royal for the soul of both the Democratic and Republican parties. At stake is whether the old 1990s playbook of attempting to stitch together a coalition and rev up the base is replaced by a new politics that aims to appeal above party. If Americans want to move beyond the era of division, the split between red and blue states, then Obama and McCain will win their respective nominations. If voters prefer the old certainties of partisan trench warfare, then a Clinton will be on the ballot once more in 2008.

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K.Vijayakumar

January 10th, 2008 10:39am

If sentiments made a significant number of voters to vote for Hillary in the NH primary thereby ensuring her win,it should be a matter of concern to the male contestants. In the very nature of things, women will be better placed than men to cash in on sentiments. Obama, beware!

Samantha Smear

January 10th, 2008 10:43pm

It seems the lady whose question made Hillary Clinton (weepy in the manner of a child threatened with having its lolly taken away?) went on to vote for Senator Obama because one of his speeches made her weep with emotion. On this form let us pray that when it comes to the wire in November the Anmerican people remember where they are and elect John McCain.
Was this article, by the way, worth publishing? One appreciates that it had to be written or revised in a hurry, but one read better and more stylish analyses in the common prints the morning after.

Robert Sawyer

January 12th, 2008 1:42am

An insignificant "win," in a media, non-event.
Apropos of what was gained. Each took with them seven delegates as this primary goes on and on ad naseum. It's important that we keep in mind, that the Bill Clinton named the "Come back, Kid" was 45 years old, arguably a kid, Senator Clinton is a tired and soon to be worn out, 60 year old woman.

David L Nilsson

January 12th, 2008 9:25am

Like everyone in the dead-tree media, Forsyth fails to notice the one candidate who unites rigid respect for America's traditions with a vision of its future that is exciting thousands of real voters, from all parties and none, and attracting millions in contributions from little people. Despite a blackout from the monied interests that are terrified of the consequences to their bottom lines of the USA ceasing to be the world's bully and welfare wagon for immigrants, this candidate got more votes than Giuliani in one state and almost as many in the other. www.ronpaul2008.com

After Jade’s cancer, what next? ‘I’m a tumour, get me out of here’?

Rod Liddle

Rod Liddle says that the stunningly tasteless announcement of Jade Goody’s cervical cancer on Indian Big Brother marks a new low. But that won’t stop TV bosses saying it is a public service

Economic recovery plan? Forget it, Gordon

Martin Vander Weyer

The Prime Minister’s survival is pinned on a September ‘relaunch’ to ease the voters’ economic woes. But, says Martin Vander Weyer, each door through which Brown tries to escape his predicament slams in his face. His room for manoeuvre is negligible

Georgia sheds light on the mind of Cameron

James Forsyth

James Forsyth says that the Tory leader is more immersed in foreign policy than first seemed probable. Unlike Brown, he has ambitions as an international leader

Behind closed doors with the maestro

Clemency Burton-Hill

As a Proms presenter, Clemency Burton-Hill had unique access to Daniel Barenboim last week: she reports on his private remarks about music and his rage for excellence

Poles are the fall guys of the immigration debate

Dennis Sewell

The taboo on discussing migration has only been partly lifted, says Dennis Sewell. We pretend that all migrants are the same, whereas the statistics reveal some uncomfortable truths

America is still the nation whose eyes say ‘yes’

Douglas Murray

Douglas Murray tours a country despondent about its presidential race and increasingly uncertain about Barack Obama. Yet the world still needs America’s strengths

Don’t mention the Afghan–Pakistan war

Fraser Nelson

Both Britain and America are reluctant to admit it but, says Fraser Nelson, our most pressing foreign policy problem is what to do about Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state in which terrorists have taken sanctuary

I feel for Ingrid Betancourt — I was kidnapped, too

Tristan Garel-Jones

Tristan Garel-Jones on being kidnapped and why the world should stand with Colombia

A portrait of the artist as a tennis champion

Melissa Kite

Melissa Kite meets Martina Navratilova, nine times Wimbledon singles champion and now pioneer of ‘tennising’ — an artistic technique that creates Jackson Pollock-style patterns

An innocent at Home

James Forsyth

Dominic Grieve, the new shadow home secretary, tells James Forsyth that he won’t ‘resort to soundbites’. But is this a sensible approach for a modern-day politician?